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Impacts of cognitive impairment for different levels and causes of traumatic brain injury, and education status in TBI patients

IMPACTOS DO COMPROMETIMENTO COGNITIVO PARA DIFERENTES NÍVEIS E CAUSAS DE TRAUMATISMO CRANIOENCEFÁLICO E GRAU DE INSTRUÇÃO EM PACIENTES LESADOS

ABSTRACT

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of main causes of death and disability among many young and old populations in different countries.

Objective:

The aim of this study were to consider and predict the cognitive impairments according to different levels and causes of TBI, and education status.

Methods:

The study was performed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to estimate cognitive impairment in patients at a trauma center in Zahedan city. Individuals were considered eligible if 18 years of age or older. This investigation assessed a subset of patients from a 6-month pilot study.

Results:

The study participants comprised 66% males and 34% females. Patient mean age was 32.5 years and SD was 12.924 years. One-way analysis of variance between groups indicated cognitive impairment related to different levels and causes of TBI, and education status in patients. There was a significant difference in the dimensions of cognitive impairments for different levels and causes of TBI, and education status. A regression test showed that levels of traumatic brain injury (b=.615, p=.001) and education status (b=.426, p=.001) predicted cognitive impairment.

Conclusion:

Different levels of TBI and education status were useful for predicting cognitive impairment in patients. Severe TBI and no education were associated with worse cognitive performance and higher disability. These data are essential in terms of helping patients understand their needs. Therefore, the factors identified can help plan effective rehabilitation programs.

Key words:
cognitive impairment; traumatic brain injury (TBI); education status; TBI patients

RESUMO

A lesão cerebral traumática (TCE) é uma das principais causas de morte e incapacidade em muitos jovens e idosos em diferentes países.

Objetivo:

O objetivo deste estudo foi considerar e prever os prejuízos cognitivos para os diferentes níveis e causas do TCE e status de educação.

Métodos:

O estudo foi feito usando o Mini-Exame do Estado Mental (MMSE) para estimar o comprometimento cognitivo em pacientes dirigido a um centro de trauma na cidade de Zahedan. Os indivíduos foram considerados elegíveis se tivessem 18 anos de idade ou mais. Esta investigação avaliou um subconjunto de pacientes de um estudo piloto de 6 meses.

Resultados:

Os participantes do estudo foram 66% do sexo masculino e 34% do sexo feminino. A média de idade dos pacientes foi de 32,5 anos e DP foi de 12,924 anos. A análise de variância unidirecional entre grupos indicou comprometimento cognitivo relacionado a diferentes níveis e causas de TCE e status de educação em pacientes. Houve uma diferença significativa nas dimensões de deficiências cognitivas para os diferentes níveis e causas de TCE e status de educação. O teste de regressão mostrou que níveis de lesão cerebral traumática (b=0,615, p=0,001) e o status de educação (b=0,426, p=0,001) predizem o comprometimento cognitivo.

Conclusão:

Os diferentes níveis de TCE e estados de educação foram uteis para prever o comprometimento cognitivo em pacientes. TCE grave e sem educação foram relacionadas a piora do desempenho cognitivo e maior incapacidade. Esses dados são essenciais para ajudar os pacientes a entender o que realmente precisam, portanto, os fatores identificados podem contribuir no planejamento de programas de reabilitação efetivos.

Palavras-chave:
comprometimento cognitivo; traumatismo cranioencefálico (TCE); grau de instrução; pacientes lesionados

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most common cause of death and disability among young and old persons in many countries, including the USA and Canada,11 Barlow KM. Traumatic brain injury. Handb Clin Neurol. 2013;112: 891-904. where TBI results in chronic neurological, cognitive, and behavioral impairments.22 Giza C. Traumatic brain injury. In: Lisak RP, Truong DD, William M. Carroll WM, Roongroj Bhidayasiri R. International Neurology. Second Edition, Nova Jersey, EUA: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd: 2016:98-701. It can, therefore, be one of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of clinical neurocritical care.33 Abou El Fadl MH, O'Phelan KH. Management of Traumatic Brain Injury. Neurol Clin. 2017;35(4):641-53. Traumatic brain injury patients are at high risk for impairments in pragmatic language and social communication in general.44 Turkstra L, Politis AM. Traumatic Brain Injury. In: Cummings, Louise. Research in Clinical Pragmatics: Perspectives in Pragmatics, Philosophy & Psychology. Springer; 2017:291-322. Post-traumatic brain-injured patients, after coming out of coma, specifically report behavioural problems and cognitive impairments.55 Birkhead S. Post-traumatic Brain Injury. In: Rosemary Crouch, Vivyan Alers. Occupational Therapy in Psychiatry and Mental Health, Fifth Edition, Nova Jersey, EUA: Wiley-Blackwell; 2014:356-67.

Cognitive impairment is a common consequence of traumatic brain injury and a substantial source of disability, across all levels of TBI severity, where attention, processing speed, episodic memory, and executive function are the most commonly affected dimensions.66 Wortzel HS, Arciniegas DB. Treatment of Post-Traumatic Cognitive Impairments. Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2012;14(5):493-508. Cognitive impairment is a common outcome at each levels and causes of TBI in patients. In one study, during follow-up after trauma, all patients underwent neurological examination including the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Glasgow outcome scale (GOS).77 Alemam AI, Mohamad HA, Alhadad AA. Memory and attention impairment after traumatic brain injury. Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery. 2013;50(2):143-8. Another study showed that moderate-to-severe TBI patients reported cognitive deficits including memory, language, executive functions, attention and information processing speed impairments.88 Miotto EC, Cinalli FZ, Serrao VT, Benute GG, Lucia MC, Scaff M. Cognitive deficits in patients with mild to moderate traumatic brain injury. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2010;68(6):862-8. TBI patients are at risk of subjective memory impairment, which was found to be significantly greater among TBI patients with loss of consciousness, where post-TBI cognitive impairment primarily affects executive function and processing speed.99 Gardner RC, Langa KM, Yaffe K. Subjective and objective cognitive function among older adults with a history of traumatic brain injury: A population-based cohort study. PLoS Med. 2017;14(3):e1002246.

However, there was a statistically significant increase in the composite cognitive score and decrease in functional connectivity in the right inferior frontal gyrus, with changes in the brain-behavior in Traumatic brain injury patients.1010 Porter S, Torres IJ, Panenka W, Rajwani Z, Fawcett D, Hyder A, et al. Changes in brain-behavior relationships following a 3-month pilot cognitive intervention program for adults with traumatic brain injury. Heliyon. 2017;3(8):e00373. White matter disruption after brain injury indicates cognitive impairment, where white matter damage was associated with particular patterns of cognitive impairment.1111 Kinnunen KM, Greenwood R, Powell JH, Leech R, Hawkins PC, Bonnelle V, et al. White matter damage and cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury. Brain. 2011;134(Pt 2):449-63. Cognitive function was associated with outcomes, and therefore screening of cognitive function could be of importance in a clinical setting.1212 Stenberg M, Godbolt AK, Nygren De Boussard C, Levi R, Stålnacke BM. Cognitive Impairment after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, Clinical Course and Impact on Outcome: A Swedish-Icelandic Study. Behav Neurol 2015;(3):1-12.

Furthermore, severity levels of traumatic brain injury determine the degree of cognitive impairment. Levels of traumatic brain injury include severe, moderate or mild, and can have different outcomes in terms of cognitive impairment. A study reported that moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury can cause varying degrees of cognitive control deficits, with a positive relationship to injury severity correlated with self-reported cognitive control problems in everyday-life situations.1313 Olsen A, Brunner JF, Indredavik Evensen KN, Finnanger TG, Vik A, Skandsen T, et al. Altered Cognitive Control Activations after Moderate-to-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury and Their Relationship to Injury Severity and Everyday-Life Function. Cereb Cortex. 2015;25(8):2170-80. Traumatic brain injury is a risk factor for cognitive decline in mild cognitive impairment among older adult patients.1414 Li W, Risacher SL, McAllister TW, Saykin AJ. Traumatic brain injury and age at onset of cognitive impairment in older adults. J Neurol. 2016; 263(7):1280-5. Patients with mild traumatic brain injury had worse neurocognitive function, higher overall symptom severity and higher total number of symptoms. There is a cognitive deficit and symptom burden in patients with TBI.1515 Bloom BM, Kinsella K, Pott J, Patel HC, Harris T, Lecky F, et al. Short-term neurocognitive and symptomatic outcomes following mild traumatic brain injury: A prospective multi-centre observational cohort study. Brain Inj. 2017;31(3):304-11.

Traumatic brain injury is usually caused by a strike or other traumatic injury to the head or body.1616 Traumatic brain injury [internet]. Arizona; Mayo Clinic. 2018- [cited 2018 January 17]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org.
https://www.mayoclinic.org...
The most common causes of TBI are falls and vehicle accidents, followed by acts of violence and other reasons, such as fight injuries. Also, different causes of TBI are associated with different cognitive impairments. For example, different cognitive impairments are reported in car accidents, head trauma and falls.

Education plays an important role in cognitive impairment following TBI. The literature shows that education appears to affect verbal and nonverbal task performance in mild cognitive impairment patients. While higher educated patients may be more acquainted with the tasks, slower deterioration in consecutive follow-up examinations could be explained by the cognitive reserve theory.1717 Vadikolias K, Tsiakiri-Vatamidis A, Tripsianis G, Tsivgoulis G, Ioannidis P, Serdari A, et al. Mild cognitive impairment: effect of education on the verbal and nonverbal tasks performance decline. Brain Behav. 2012;2(5):620-7.

Comprehensive neuropsychological assessments in each cases of TBI are important to identify impaired and preserved functions, thereby allowing adequate management, including rehabilitation programs, for each cases.1818 Miotto EC, Cinalli FZ, Serrao VT, Benute GG, Lucia MC, Scaff M. Cognitive deficits in patients with mild to moderate traumatic brain injury. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2010;68(6):862-8. Therefore, the aims of this study were to assess and predict cognitive impairments for different levels and causes of TBI, and education status in traumatic brain injury patients. These three factors can help plan effective rehabilitation programs.

METHODS

Participants and Procedures for data collection

This study examined a subset of patients from a pilot study with sample selection using the random method. The investigation covered a 6-month period from March 2017 to October 2017. The study was conducted at a level one trauma centre in Zahedan city. The patients were receiving medical care. Subjects were considered eligible if they were 18 years of age or older and had sustained one of five kinds of traumatic brain injuries within 24 hours of presentation to the Emergency Department. Children and patients with previous orthopaedic conditions were excluded.

Data regarding the levels of severe Brain Injury, moderate and mild Traumatic Brain Injury and causes of the injury, including car accident, car accident multiple trauma, head trauma, head trauma multiple trauma, and fall were also collected within 2 months of patient discharge. Generally, the study was completed within 6 months.

Demographic questionnaire

At the beginning research, considering degrees of Traumatic Brain Injury by Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) test has been done, 9-12 score is moderate TBI, and GCS of 3-8 is severe TBI. Patients were enrolled prospectively after providing written informed consent and completed the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) questions. This is a well-validated scale for cognitive impairment in Iranian adults. Cognitive tests provide valuable information for understanding the mechanism of cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury and for the management of TBI patients.1919 Wang ML, Li WB. Cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury: The role of MRI and possible pathological basis. J Neurol Sci. 2016; 15(370):244-50. Investigation indicated that MMSE serves as a similar predictor to the Disability Rating Scale in TBI patients.2020 de Guise E, Leblanc J, Champoux MC, Couturier C, Alturki AY, Lamoureux J, et al. The mini-mental state examination and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment after traumatic brain injury: an early predictive study. Brain Inj. 2013;27(12):1428-34. The validity of the Persian MMSE in recognizing normal versus abnormal cognition cut-off score for Persians has been demonstrated, with a sensitivity and specificity of 98% and 100%, respectively. The test usually takes about ten minutes to complete. The MMSE evaluates a range of cognitive domains, including orientation, memory, language, attention and calculation, and the ability to follow simple verbal and written commands.2121 Ansari NN, Naghdi S, Hasson S, Valizadeh L, Jalaie S. Validation of a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for the Persian Population: A Pilot Study. Appl Neuropsychol. 2010;17:190-5. The MMSE is usually used as a brief test in clinics and as a research instrument for assessing cognitive impairment and dementia. The MMSE serves as a similar predictor to the Disability Rating Scale at discharge.2222 de Guise E, Leblanc J, Champoux MC, Couturier C, Alturki AY, Lamoureux J, et al. The mini-mental state examination and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment after traumatic brain injury: an early predictive study. Brain Inj. 2013;27(12):1428-34. Scores of 25-30 out of 30 are considered normal; the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) classifies 21-24 as mild, 10-20 as moderate and<10 as severe impairment.2323 Willacy H. Mini Mental State Examination [Internet]. Lancaster: Lancaster University, Department: Lancaster Medical School; [updated 2017 febreuary 6]. Avalible from: https://patient.info/doctor/mini-mental-state-examination-mmse.
https://patient.info/doctor/mini-mental-...

Data analysis

Data were analyzed with SPSS, version 21.0 for Windows. Data were reported as mean frequencies. Parametric tests were used, thus, one-way ANOVA test assessed each dimensions of cognitive impairment for the different levels and causes of TBI with education status separately. A regression test was used to predict cognitive impairment according to the different levels and causes of TBI with education. Variables were considered significant (p<0.05) with a cut-off for rejection of variables from the model of p=0.10.

Ethical aspects

This study was approved by the Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. Participants were asked to sign the Free and Informed Consent Form, after due clarification concerning the study and before data collection.

RESULTS

The pilot study included 50 patients, comprising 66% males and 34% females. The mean age of the patients was 32.5 years (range 18-66 years) and SD was (12.924 years, with a 95% confidence interval. The following mechanisms of injury were reported when the patients presented to the Emergency Department (ED): Severe Brain Injury (66%); Moderate TBI (50%); and Mild TBI (40%).

In terms of trauma causes reported, car accident (26%); car accident multiple trauma (38%); head trauma (24%); head trauma multiple trauma (25%); and falls (10%). The data for education status showed No education (24%); School education (62%); University education (14%).

One-way between groups analysis of variance was conducted to assess the impact of different levels and causes of TBI, and education status, as measured by the dimensions of cognitive impairment. There were statistically significant differences in the different levels and causes of traumatic brain injury with education statuses, as estimated by dimensions of cognitive impairment (MMSE). There was a statistically significant difference at the p<.05 level for the three levels of TBI assessed (Severe, Moderate, and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury) and all cognitive impairment dimensions were associated with levels of TBI, except Language F (2, 47)=2.01, p=.14 which showed no statistically significant difference for TBI level. In addition, there was a statistically significant difference, at the p-value<.05, for all causes of TBI for all dimensions of cognitive impairment. Education status, divided into three levels (No education, School education, and University education), exhibited a statistically significant difference, at the p-value<.05, for dimensions of cognitive impairment, but Registration F (2, 47)=1.47, p =.23 and Recall F (2, 47)=1.63, p =.20 displayed no statistically significant difference in cognitive impairment with education status (Table 1).

Table 1
Impacts of levels and causes of traumatic brain injury and education on dimensions of cognitive impairment.

Standard multiple regression was used to assess the ability of the three measures (TBI levels, causes of TBI, and education) to predict levels of cognitive impairment. Preliminary analyses were conducted to ensure no violation of the assumptions of normality, linearity, multicollinearity and homoscedasticity. TBI levels, causes of TBI, and education explained 7% of the variance in cognitive impairment. Test scores attained were regressed on the different levels of TBI and education status, indicating that these can predict cognitive impairment, which proved highly significant, R22 Giza C. Traumatic brain injury. In: Lisak RP, Truong DD, William M. Carroll WM, Roongroj Bhidayasiri R. International Neurology. Second Edition, Nova Jersey, EUA: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd: 2016:98-701. =.57, F(3,46)=24, p=.001, 99% CI. The different levels of traumatic brain injury (b=.615, p=.001) and education status (b=.426, p=.001) demonstrated significant effects on cognitive impairment with a 99% of confidence interval (Table 2).

Table 2
Prediction of cognitive impairment by levels and causes of traumatic brain injury and education.

Severe brain injury patients had scores of 10-15, indicating moderate impairment. Moderate and mild TBI cases exhibited mild level of impairment (Figure 1A). Car accident multiple trauma caused moderate level of impairment, whereas Car accident and head trauma caused mild level of impairment. Falls and head trauma multiple trauma showed a normal level of cognitive impairment (Figure 1B). Patients with no education showed a moderate level of impairment, while patients with school and university education scored 20-25, indicating a mild level of cognitive impairment (Figure 1A).

Figure 1
Cognitive impairment (MMSE) according to different levels and causes of TBI and education status

DISCUSSION

In this study, there was a direct relationship between different levels of TBI and cognitive impairment. Hence, mild-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) led to different degrees of cognitive impairment, which in turn had a negative impact on long-term functional outcomes. Recently published studies on levels of TBI reported that mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) patients had long-term cognitive impairment.2424 McInnes K, Friesen CL, MacKenzie DE, Westwood DA, Boe SG. Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) and chronic cognitive impairment: A scoping review. PLoS One. 2017;12(4):e0174847. These patients also had dynamic changes in the thalamus and white matter (WM) as well as cognitive impairment during the follow-up period.2525 Grossman EJ, Jensen JH, Babb JS, Chen Q, Tabesh A, Fieremans E, et al. Cognitive impairment in mild traumatic brain injury: a longitudinal diffusional kurtosis and perfusion imaging study. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2013;34(5):951-7, S1-3. A similar study indicated differences between moderate and severe TBI patients in cognitive deficits, with problems in executive dysfunction, attention and improvement over time.2626 Finnanger TG, Skandsen T, Andersson S, Lydersen S, Vik A, Indredavik M. Differentiated patterns of cognitive impairment 12 months after severe and moderate traumatic brain injury. Brain Inj. 2013;27(13-14):1606-16. In contrast, some researchers hold that TBI influences cognition in both moderate and severe cases. Thus, cognitive impairment may be associated with future disability in severe and moderate traumatic brain injury patients.2727 Skandsen T, Finnanger TG, Andersson S, Lydersen S, Brunner JF, Vik A. Cognitive impairment 3 months after moderate and severe traumatic brain injury: a prospective follow-up study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2010;91(12):1904-13.

Causes of traumatic brain injury are an important variable for determining cognitive impairment, indeed different causes of TBI indicated different degrees of cognitive impairment. In particular, car accident multiple trauma, car accident and head trauma indicated high risk of cognitive impairment. Different injuries commonly seen are caused by motor vehicle accidents. Car accidents are associated with serious brain injuries which can lead to numerous cognitive problems and symptoms.2828 lawsuitlegal.com [Internet]. Florida: Soft Tissue Injuries Sustained In a Crash; c2015 [cited 2018 April 10]. Available from: http://lawsuitlegal.com/
http://lawsuitlegal.com/...
A previous study showed acute head injury is likely and predicts cognitive impairment.2929 Ganti L, Daneshvar Y, Ayala S, Bodhit AN, Peters KR. The value of neurocognitive testing for acute outcomes after mild traumatic brain injury. Mil Med Res. 2016;3:23. Researchers argued that there is strong evidence that global cognitive impairments are associated with serious fall-related injury, which was also associated with increased risk.3030 Muir SW, Gopaul K, Montero Odasso MM. The role of cognitive impairment in fall risk among older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Age Ageing. 2012;41(3):299-308.

Cognitive impairment was related with education status, which could be predicted by education. In particular, education is strongly associated with levels of cognitive function, but not with rate of cognitive decline. Furthermore, related research has stated that education is correlated with risk of dementia in elderly TBI patients,3131 Wilson RS, Hebert LE, Scherr PA, Barnes LL, Mendes de Leon CF, Evans DA. Educational attainment and cognitive decline in old age. Neurology. 2009;72(5):460-5. although education-cognition relationship are partially explained by intellectual activities.3232 Parisi JM, Rebok GW, Xue QL, Fried LP, Seeman TE, Tanner EK, et al. The Role of Education and Intellectual Activity on Cognition. J Aging Res. 2012(1):416132. Another investigation found that higher educated patients performed better on both memory tests at baseline, compared to less educated patients.3333 Cadar D, Robitaille A, Clouston S, Hofer SM, Piccinin AM, Muniz-Terrera G. An International Evaluation of Cognitive Reserve and Memory Changes in Early Old Age in 10 European Countries. Neuroepidemiology. 2017;48(1-2):9-20. In addition, memory and language functions were found to be more resistant to decline in the high-education group.1717 Vadikolias K, Tsiakiri-Vatamidis A, Tripsianis G, Tsivgoulis G, Ioannidis P, Serdari A, et al. Mild cognitive impairment: effect of education on the verbal and nonverbal tasks performance decline. Brain Behav. 2012;2(5):620-7. Evidence indicated that higher education can attenuate the negative effect of TBI on cognitive outcomes.3434 Sumowski JF, Chiaravalloti N, Krch D, Paxton J, Deluca J. Education attenuates the negative impact of traumatic brain injury on cognitive status. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2013;94(12):2562-4. Educated patient status proved an independent predictor of 1-year disability-free recovery even after traumatic brain injury was adjusted for other prognostic factors.3535 Schneider EB, Sur S, Raymont V, Duckworth J, Kowalski RG, Efron DT, et al. Functional recovery after moderate/severe traumatic brain injury. Neurology. 2014;82(18):1636-42. Mild cognitive impairment patients with higher education/occupation had more elevated regional cerebral metabolic rates for glucose reduction than individuals with low education, and comparable levels of cognitive impairment.3636 Cassels C. High Education Level May Reduce Memory Impairment, Delay Onset of Alzheimer's Symptoms. Neurology. 2008;71:1342-9.

Our study suggests that the different levels and causes of TBI and education status are useful variables for predicting cognitive impairment in patients. Also, TBI affects most in cognitive functions. In fact, different levels (mild-to-severe) and causes of TBI, and education status play potential compensatory role in indicating severity of cognitive impairment. Another study in moderate-to-severe TBI survivors reported that cognitive deficit is associated with functional changes in the brain.3737 Olsen A. Cognitive Control Function and Moderate-to-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: Functional and Structural Brain Correlates. [dissertation]. Circulation and Medical Imaging: Norwegian University; 2014. Based on these arguments, cognitive reserve could be a factor driving neural adaptation during recovery from TBI.3535 Schneider EB, Sur S, Raymont V, Duckworth J, Kowalski RG, Efron DT, et al. Functional recovery after moderate/severe traumatic brain injury. Neurology. 2014;82(18):1636-42. However, education had a considerable effect in determining cognitive impairment in traumatic brain injury. Researchers noted that patients with more education have a greater cognitive reserve, or the brain’s ability to maintain function in spite of damage. Higher educated patients have been shown to display fewer symptoms of the disease than individuals with less education, and be more likely to fully recover.3838 sciencedaily.com [Internet]. Maryland: Higher education associated with better recovery from traumatic brain injury; c2014 [cited 2018April10]. Available from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/...
A health education program promoting knowledge to increase understanding about TBI via two modes of delivery, classroom and electronic, was evaluated. Both modes appeared equally effective in terms of self-report of change in long-term TBI knowledge outcomes.3939 Garcia J, Sellers DM, Hilgendorf A, Burnett DL. Evaluation of a health education programme about traumatic brain injury. Health Education Journal 2014;73(5):588-99.

Cognitive impairments following TBI are common and vary widely. However, there are different cognitive rehabilitation techniques and combinations, especially pharmacotherapy, that are helpful in addressing various cognitive deficits.4040 Barman A, Chatterjee A, Bhide R. Cognitive Impairment and Rehabilitation Strategies After Traumatic Brain Injury. Indian J Psychol Med. 2016;38(3):172-81. Also, different levels and causes of TBI and education status should be considered when planning future rehabilitation programs.

The present study was rigorously prepared yet there were statistically significant differences for different levels and causes of traumatic brain injury and education status, as estimated by dimensions of cognitive impairment. This indicates that different levels and causes of TBI and education in patients are variables impacting score achieved across all dimensions of cognitive impairment. The results of this study confirm that different levels and causes of TBI and education status play an important role in cognitive deficit. These factors, therefore, should be addressed in rehabilitation programs. In addition, the present study had limitations, where the duration of this study was relatively short (6 months). Thus the long-term impact of the level and cause of TBI and of education on cognitive impairment should be investigated in larger groups of TBI patients.

In conclusion, the different levels and causes of traumatic brain injury, and education status, correlated with dimensions of cognitive impairment, and TBI levels and education status were useful for predicting cognitive impairment in patients. Severe TBI and no education were associated with worse cognitive performance and higher disability. These data are especially important in terms of helping patients understand their needs. Therefore, the factors identified can help plan effective rehabilitation programs.

  • This study was conducted at the Young Researchers and Elite Club, Zahedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran.

Acknowledgement.

We appreciate the collaboration in providing expert clinical information during the investigation and extend thanks to the members of the Khatam Hospital Emergency Department.

REFERENCES

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    Barlow KM. Traumatic brain injury. Handb Clin Neurol. 2013;112: 891-904.
  • 2
    Giza C. Traumatic brain injury. In: Lisak RP, Truong DD, William M. Carroll WM, Roongroj Bhidayasiri R. International Neurology. Second Edition, Nova Jersey, EUA: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd: 2016:98-701.
  • 3
    Abou El Fadl MH, O'Phelan KH. Management of Traumatic Brain Injury. Neurol Clin. 2017;35(4):641-53.
  • 4
    Turkstra L, Politis AM. Traumatic Brain Injury. In: Cummings, Louise. Research in Clinical Pragmatics: Perspectives in Pragmatics, Philosophy & Psychology. Springer; 2017:291-322.
  • 5
    Birkhead S. Post-traumatic Brain Injury. In: Rosemary Crouch, Vivyan Alers. Occupational Therapy in Psychiatry and Mental Health, Fifth Edition, Nova Jersey, EUA: Wiley-Blackwell; 2014:356-67.
  • 6
    Wortzel HS, Arciniegas DB. Treatment of Post-Traumatic Cognitive Impairments. Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2012;14(5):493-508.
  • 7
    Alemam AI, Mohamad HA, Alhadad AA. Memory and attention impairment after traumatic brain injury. Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery. 2013;50(2):143-8.
  • 8
    Miotto EC, Cinalli FZ, Serrao VT, Benute GG, Lucia MC, Scaff M. Cognitive deficits in patients with mild to moderate traumatic brain injury. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2010;68(6):862-8.
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    Gardner RC, Langa KM, Yaffe K. Subjective and objective cognitive function among older adults with a history of traumatic brain injury: A population-based cohort study. PLoS Med. 2017;14(3):e1002246.
  • 10
    Porter S, Torres IJ, Panenka W, Rajwani Z, Fawcett D, Hyder A, et al. Changes in brain-behavior relationships following a 3-month pilot cognitive intervention program for adults with traumatic brain injury. Heliyon. 2017;3(8):e00373.
  • 11
    Kinnunen KM, Greenwood R, Powell JH, Leech R, Hawkins PC, Bonnelle V, et al. White matter damage and cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury. Brain. 2011;134(Pt 2):449-63.
  • 12
    Stenberg M, Godbolt AK, Nygren De Boussard C, Levi R, Stålnacke BM. Cognitive Impairment after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, Clinical Course and Impact on Outcome: A Swedish-Icelandic Study. Behav Neurol 2015;(3):1-12.
  • 13
    Olsen A, Brunner JF, Indredavik Evensen KN, Finnanger TG, Vik A, Skandsen T, et al. Altered Cognitive Control Activations after Moderate-to-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury and Their Relationship to Injury Severity and Everyday-Life Function. Cereb Cortex. 2015;25(8):2170-80.
  • 14
    Li W, Risacher SL, McAllister TW, Saykin AJ. Traumatic brain injury and age at onset of cognitive impairment in older adults. J Neurol. 2016; 263(7):1280-5.
  • 15
    Bloom BM, Kinsella K, Pott J, Patel HC, Harris T, Lecky F, et al. Short-term neurocognitive and symptomatic outcomes following mild traumatic brain injury: A prospective multi-centre observational cohort study. Brain Inj. 2017;31(3):304-11.
  • 16
    Traumatic brain injury [internet]. Arizona; Mayo Clinic. 2018- [cited 2018 January 17]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org
    » https://www.mayoclinic.org
  • 17
    Vadikolias K, Tsiakiri-Vatamidis A, Tripsianis G, Tsivgoulis G, Ioannidis P, Serdari A, et al. Mild cognitive impairment: effect of education on the verbal and nonverbal tasks performance decline. Brain Behav. 2012;2(5):620-7.
  • 18
    Miotto EC, Cinalli FZ, Serrao VT, Benute GG, Lucia MC, Scaff M. Cognitive deficits in patients with mild to moderate traumatic brain injury. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2010;68(6):862-8.
  • 19
    Wang ML, Li WB. Cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury: The role of MRI and possible pathological basis. J Neurol Sci. 2016; 15(370):244-50.
  • 20
    de Guise E, Leblanc J, Champoux MC, Couturier C, Alturki AY, Lamoureux J, et al. The mini-mental state examination and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment after traumatic brain injury: an early predictive study. Brain Inj. 2013;27(12):1428-34.
  • 21
    Ansari NN, Naghdi S, Hasson S, Valizadeh L, Jalaie S. Validation of a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for the Persian Population: A Pilot Study. Appl Neuropsychol. 2010;17:190-5.
  • 22
    de Guise E, Leblanc J, Champoux MC, Couturier C, Alturki AY, Lamoureux J, et al. The mini-mental state examination and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment after traumatic brain injury: an early predictive study. Brain Inj. 2013;27(12):1428-34.
  • 23
    Willacy H. Mini Mental State Examination [Internet]. Lancaster: Lancaster University, Department: Lancaster Medical School; [updated 2017 febreuary 6]. Avalible from: https://patient.info/doctor/mini-mental-state-examination-mmse
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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Oct-Dec 2018

History

  • Received
    03 July 2018
  • Accepted
    24 Oct 2018
Academia Brasileira de Neurologia, Departamento de Neurologia Cognitiva e Envelhecimento R. Vergueiro, 1353 sl.1404 - Ed. Top Towers Offices, Torre Norte, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, CEP 04101-000, Tel.: +55 11 5084-9463 | +55 11 5083-3876 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: revistadementia@abneuro.org.br | demneuropsy@uol.com.br